About this Project

Evan der Millner (de Molinar) spent several months each year, from 1999 though to 2004, managing and directing the restoration of the Nidhe Israel Jewish cemetery. The cemetery had been damaged after its sale by the Mahamad of Bevis Marks, London - it was supposed to be preserved according to the covenant of sale, but the new owner of the adjacent synagogue building decided to clear the space for erecting garages.

The stones were moved, and many were smashed. Fortunately, documentation existed so that Evan was able to accurately reconstruct the original arrangement of the carrerot, and return the correct tombstones to the correct graves.

He also uncovered previously unrecorded tombstones that had been hidden since the mid 1700's.

Tuesday, 25 December 2007

The Mortar Mix used in the restoration

After some experimentation, Evan Millner arrived at the following variation of the standard English Heritage Spec. Mortar Mix for architectural reconstruction: This mortar mix would be suitable in any hot climate.

lime 1 partstone dust 1 partsand 1 part1 teacup of seived wood ash

Wood ash as pozzolan is not problematic in the Barbados climate, due to the constant heat. (Wood ash generally absorbs water, and in for example the damp cold English Winters, would ruin the plasterwork).

I examined plaster on a number of ancient buildings around the island over the course of my stay, and all the plaster observed had traces of wood ash clearly visible, sometimes not even particularly well seived. Some of these plaster surfaces were hundreds of years old, yet had survived well.